The government under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan is accelerating major infrastructure projects in Songwe Region, including the expansion of the TANZAM highway from Igawa to Tunduma (218 km) and the construction of a joint vehicle inspection center at Iboya.
Over the past two years, heavy El Niño rains damaged several key roads, especially the Kamsamba route connecting Songwe to Rukwa.
The government responded with TZS 32 billion to repair and upgrade bridges and roads, including the 60-meter Mpapa Bridge, the 25-meter Sange Bridge, and the 40-meter Kabalisi Bridge, along with associated access roads and hillside stabilization works. Local contractors have completed about 90% of this work.
TANROADS Songwe Regional Manager, Engineer Suleiman Bishanga, said the region has a total road network of 1,034.71 km, of which 257 km are paved and 810 km are gravel.
“We have completed the 84-meter Kamsamba Bridge at TZS 17 billion and the 60-meter Mpapa/Mkonko Bridge at TZS 7 billion,” he said.
Ongoing projects include the Ibungu–Kafafa road, divided into two sections addressing bridge repairs and landslide-prone areas.
The Sange Bridge is 92% complete, while the Kabalisi Bridge is also under construction. The Ndembo–Kwenda–Ngana road linking Songwe to Mbeya and the Malawi border is progressing, with landslide stabilization works at 85% completion.
Engineer Bishanga revealed that over TZS 300 billion has been invested in Songwe so far. This includes 50 km of paved road from Mpemba to Isongole, completed at a cost of more than TZS 107 billion, and a major bridge over the Songwe River connecting Tanzania to Malawi.
Another strategic project is the Igawa–Tunduma (218 km) and Uyole–Songwe (48.9 km bypass) roads under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), aimed at boosting trade and economic growth in the southern highlands and linking Tanzania with countries such as Zambia and the DRC.
Construction of the 130 km Kamsamba–Mlowo road is underway in phases. Phase one, covering Mlowo–Zelezeta, is nearly complete, while the Kamsamba–Mkonko section is set to start soon, with contractors in the final preparations to begin work.
“These projects are part of the government’s commitment to improving transport infrastructure, enhancing trade, and supporting economic development across the southern regions,” Engineer Bishanga said.